Latch mechanism



. J. LEDWINKA 1,731,628

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, I

2 She-ecs-.SheetV 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Cet. l5, 1929.4 ,L-EDWINKA LA'TC'MECHANISU.

Filed Nov. 2, 1926 "zwaan-sheet 2.

INVENTOR. l JOSEPH LEDWINKA A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 l UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE JQSEPH LEDWINKA, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G. BJIDD MANUFACTURING COMIANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- IORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA LATCH MECHANISM Application filed November 2, 1926. Serial No. 145,731.

This invention relates to a latch mechanism, and more particularly it relates to' a latch mechanism for use upon the doors of closed automobile bodies.

In the manufacture of closed automobile bodies the present objective is to reduce the size of the door and corner posts, as well as to increase the width of the windows, thereby affording a maximum of vision from the interior of the body. This objective has been partially obtained by the provision of an interconnecting member between the outside latch operating device and the latch bolt which circumvents the' path of movement of the sliding window, thus allowing the use of slidingwindows of substantially the full width of the door.

rllhe primary object of this invention is to provide a latch mechanism for an automobile door, wherein the outside latch operating device is operatively connected to the latch bolt by means circumventing the path of movement of the window, such means together with the other latch' elements effecting a mechanism simple in construction, having ease and efficiency of operation, and requiring a minimum alteration of the door structure for its installation.

Additional objects, together with their resultant advantages, will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

This invention is an improvement on that disclosed in my co-pending application S. N. 5,423, iiled January 29, 1925.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; wherein,

Fig. 1 shows the assembled latchmechanism in end elevation, the door being indicated in dotted lines, and the outside operating handle being omitted,

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary end elevation of the latch mechanism,

Fig. 3 shows an irregular section through the latch mechanism taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 5; certain of the elements being shown in plan view for purposes of clearness, j

Fig. it shows the latch mechanism in top The latch elements are carried by a substantially 8 of which is secured to the inner U-shaped latch casing; one arm door panel 2, another arm 4 to the outer door panel l, v

while the bight portion 5 of the casing lies adjacent and is secured to the interior of the jamb face of the door.

A sliding latch bolt 6 is positioned upon the inner surface of the arm 3 of the latch casing and is suitably guided thereon for horizontal sliding movement by lugs or other means formed on, or secured to the casing. The outer end of the bolt is provided with a beveled bolt head or nose 7 adapted to project through registering apertures in the bight 5 of the casing and the jamb face of the door, so as t0 operatively coact with a keeper (not shown) to hold the door closed. Located substantially midway of the bolt is an arm or extension 8 projecting upwardly from the .top edge thereof. projection is also forwardly curved, and its purpose in the construction will be set forth iereinafter. A slot 9 is formed along the middle line longitudinally of the bolt and extends from the point where the arm 8 projects upwardly to adjacent the inner end of the bolt. A lug 10, having a beveled for ward end, is located at the inner end of the slot on the outer surface of the bolt, while the inside surface of the bolt is provided with a recessed portion l1, arranged approximately beneath the slot 9. The purpose of the foregoing elements and their relationship to each other and to the balance of the mechanism will be pointed out in the description to follow, The bolt is normally projected by This arm or ,a spring 12 anchored to the latch plate and The arm 3 of the casing has offsets 13 and.

14 formed therein in vertical alinement. The offsets 13 are on one side of the arm and the offsets 14 on the other side, the said osets being alternately arranged. It will be apparent these offsets form a cylindrical bearing in which a rod 15 comprising a part of the inner latch operating device may be rotatably mounted. The lower end of the rod 15 has a laterally projecting portion 16 adapted to extend through the slot 9 in the bolt. When the rod is rotated in one direction, the portion 16 thereof will engage the rear wall of the slot and force the boltjrearwardly against the tension of the spring 12. Release of the 'rotating force upon the rod, will allow the spring'to again project the bolt and return the rod toits normal position.

The rod is provided with an operating handle 17, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. A slot 18 is formed in the rod slightly.1 below the handle, while a sleeve 19, having a transverse pin 20 therein which is adapted to travel in the slot, slidabl lits the rods. This sleeve extends downwar ly to a short distance below the top of arm 3 of the casing, having an annular flange 21 on its'l'ower end. Another transverse pin 22 is carried by the rod a suitable distance below the flange 21. The purpose of these parts will be shown hereinafter. A flat spring 23 is fastened to the latch casing and has its free end bearing against a flattened portion 24 of the rod. The purpose of this spring is to hold the rod against vibration and also to effect a retention thereof in its normal position. The description thus far has covered the casing, latch bolt, and inside operating means for the latch bolt.

. The outside latch operating means and the interconnecting member between the same and the latch bolt will next be described.

The outer arm #t and bight 5 having4 an Lshaped member 211 secured thereto; one end of said member being secured, respectively, to the arm and bight. The structure thus formed presents a casing for the outside operating device. Registering apertures in the member 24 and arm 4 constitute a bearing for the spindle 25 of the outside operating device. The operating device has the spindle portion thereof provided with a hub, from which project radially in opposite directions a long arm 26 and a short arm 27. The long arm has an opening therein for therec'eption of means securing it to the interconnecting means, while the short arm is provided with a, notch 28 to receive a free end of av spring 29. This spring encircles the spindle 25 between the hub and the arm 4. of the casing and the other free end of the spring is held in a notch 30 formed in the arm 4. The spindle 25 and arms 26 and 27 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 5, by the spring. The spindle 25 is provided with a squared longitudinal opening for the reception of a spindle carrying the outside handle.

The element of the interlocking means which circumvents the path of movement of the window is substantially U-shaped, having arms 31 and 32 passing downwardly on opposite sides, respectively, of the window and connected by a bight portion 33 extending transversely of the door. .A link 34 is pivotally connected to the long arm 26 of the outer operating device and to the arm 31 of the interconnecting member by suitable means, such, for example, as a turnbuckle 35. A

bracket 36 is secured intcriorly of the jamb face of the door at approximately the same depth in the door pocket-as the length of the interconnecting member extends. A flange 37 projects laterally from the bracket into the pocketand has two spaced openings therein. Each arm 31 and 32 project through these openings while the bight 33 is situated below the flange. The interconnecting member is thus guided in its operative movement within the door. The upper end of the arm 32 is pivotally connected to a lever 38, which in turn is fitted to the squared end of a shaft having bearings in the inner arm 3 of the latch casing and the cover plate 39. Intermediate the parts of the casing just referred to the shaft has a cam` lever portion 40 adapted to engage against the projecting arm 8 of the bolt.

The description heretofore given makes it clear that when the outside operating handle operating device has. been previously described and is thought to be perfectly clear.

In'order to provide a simple means, operable from the inside of the door, for preventing operation ofthe bolt from the outside, the following mechanismis employed.

- A flogging member is slidably arranged on the arm 3 of the latch casing and is adapted to have a portion engage behind the cam 40. This member comprises a horizontal arm 41 havingtwo vertically extending arms 42 and 1 i3v projecting downwardly therefrom. A cross member 44 connects the vertical arms near their lower extremities. A guide 45 havling legs 46 and 47 at each end surrounds the 'arm42 so as to guide the dogging member in its sliding movement in the latch casing. The

cross member 44 is limited in its movement by the jamb face of the door; and the mechanthe legs 46 and 47, thus in turn limiting the movement of the dogging member. A spring 48 engaging in spaced recesses in the arm 42 holds the flogging member in either of two positions'.v The inner end of the horizontal arm 41 hasa broadened portion so that an inclined surface 49 may be lformed thereon. The arm extends across the rod between the annular flange 21 ot' the sleeve 19 and the pin 22, ,so that the said pin and inclined surface 49 are in coacting relation. The extreme inner end 50 of the arm 41 kis bent downwardly around the rod l5, so that the tip portion thereof isagainst the arm 3 of the casing.

The bolt is dogged against operation from the outside by depressing the sleeve 19. This may be done in a variety of ways, as for example, by the use of a push rod and button extending downwardly from the top of rod 15 and bearing on the pin 20. As the sleeve is depressed the flange 21 will press the dogging member downwardly, so that the arm 43 engages behind the cam 40, thus prevent ing movement 'of the same. The operation of the inner latch operating device again elevates the clogging member due to the engagement of the pin 22 with the inclined surface 49. As the dogging member is elevated it is apparent that the sleeve 19 is also elevated.

The spring 48 holds the clogging member in either the elevated or depressed position until actuation effects echange.

The foregoing description has disclosed a latch mechanism admirably adapted for use upon the doors of automobile bodies ot' the type that have narrow posts and wide windows. The door structure does not have to be altered for the installation of this mechanism; there are no unsightly protuberan'ces upon ical interconnection between the outside operating means and the latch bolt is such that ease of operation is provided.

lVhere I have used herein and in the following claims, the expression al window of substantially the full width of the door, or a similar expression, it has reference more particularly to the relative extent of the door and sliding window at the latch side of the door, with which my invention is more particularly concerned.'

The claims, appended herewith, are drawn with the understanding that the invention is only to be limited in its various modifications and adaptations according to scope of said claims.

`What I claim 1s:

1. A door latch mechanism comprising a ber circumventing the bottom edge of the path of travel of said window and interconnecting one of said operating devices with said bolt, said member and said operating devices being positively connected for simultaneous operations.

2. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a window of substantially the full width ot the door slidably arranged therein comprising a latch, inside and outside latch operating devices arranged on opposite sides of the door, and an interconnecting member between one of said devices and the latch, circuniventing the bottom edge of the path of movement of said sliding window, said interconnecting member being bodily depresssible in its operative movement and having a major portion lying on three sides of the sliding window.

3. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a window of substantially thefull width of the door slidable therein comprising inside and outside latch operating devices, a member for operatively connecting the outside device with a latch bolt, said member having a substantially Ulshaped integral portion embracing the lower edge of the ,path ot movement of the window, and an apertured bracket through which the arms of said U-shaped portion are slidably guided.

4. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a window of substantially the full width of the door slidably arranged therein comprising a latch bolt, inside and outside latch operating devices, an interconnecting member between said outside latch operating device and said latch bolt, said member having integral side and bottom portions extending alongopposite sides and beneath the bottom edge of the path of movement of said window and being vertically depressible through a bracket having apertures slidably receiving the side portions, and

means positively connecting said member l' with the outside operating device.

5. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a window of substantially the full width of the door slidably arranged therein comprising a latch bolt, inside and outside operating devices for said latch bolt, an integral member positively connected with the outside operating device and lying on three sides of the path oli' movement of said window for eecting operations of the said bolt from the outside ot' the door, said member being bodily depressible in its operative movement, and means operated from within the door to prevent depression of said member whereby operation of the bolt from the outside of the door is correspondingly prevented.

. 6. A door latch mechanism comprising inside and outside` latch operating devices mounted on opposite sides of the door and adapted to embrace the sliding window-there between, an interlocking member formed ofan integral portion extending downwardly and upwardly on opposite `sides of the Window, inter-'connecting said operating devices and arranged to circumvent the lsliding window in the general pla-ne of the body of the door, said interlock being bodily reciprocable throughout in the same direction.

In testimony .whereof he hereunto aixes his signature. v

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.. 

